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Judd Legum Profile picture
@JuddLegum
Nov 29, 2023 • 11 tweets • 4 min read • Read on X
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1. Earlier this month, a mysterious woman appeared before a school board in Texas and claimed that, when she was 11, she READ A SCHOLASTIC BOOK THAT SPARKED A DEBILITATING PORN ADDICTION.

We investigated.

And it's ABSOLUTELY WILD what is happening.

🧵 Image
2. The woman was 20-year-old Lanah Burkhardt.

Burkhardt said after reading a Scholastic book that depicted a "single kiss," she "looked for other books that gave me pleasure." This "led to internet searches" that she will "never forget."

popular.info/p/mysterious-w…
3. Burkhardt cited her story as a reason to restrict access to Drama, a novel published by Scholastic. The book includes this image of two people kissing: Image
4. But Burkhardt went further, arguing that Conroe should remove all Scholastic books from schools and stop hosting Scholastic book fairs.

According to Burkhardt, "getting rid of Scholastic books and their book fairs will inevitably protect kids."

popular.info/p/mysterious-w…
4. Burkhardt's appearance was promoted by SkyTree Book Fairs, a newly formed organization marketing itself as "an alternative to the sexually explicit content distributed in Scholastic's book fairs." Image
5. SkyTree Book Fairs presents itself as an independent non-profit. But it appears to be a hastily assembled offshoot of Brave Books, which publishes children's books by right-wing pundits

The president of SkyTree Book Fairs was recently an "Executive Assistant" at Brave Books Image
6. Burkhardt's appearance at the Conroe school board was also promoted by Brave Books. The company called it a "must watch" and a "powerful message that needs to be heard."

popular.info/p/mysterious-w…
7. Neither Brave Books nor Burkhardt disclosed that Burkhardt is an employee of Brave Books. According to her LinkedIn profile, Burkhardt is the company's "public relations coordinator." Image
8. The Conroe school board, after listening to Burkhardt's story, voted to restrict access to Drama from all students in the 8th grade and below. One of the school board members, Melissa Dungan, suggested replacing Scholastic with SkyTree Book Fairs. Image
9. More on Brave Books/SkyTree and their scheme to replace Scholastic with kids' books written by right-wing Pizzagate conspiracy theorists in today's newsletter

popular.info/p/mysterious-w…
10. For UPDATES and more accountability journalism, subscribe to Popular Information.

It's free to sign up.

popular.info/subscribe

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More from @JuddLegum

Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 31
1. The Everglades detention camp, known as Alligator Alcatraz, has become a LEGAL BLACK HOLE.

Hundreds of people are being held at the facility without charges, without access to attorneys, and without the ability to contest their detention in court.
2. The plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit filed an emergency motion last Friday arguing the treatment of detainees at the Everglades detention camp violates the Fifth Amendment right to due process.

popular.info/p/a-legal-blac…
3. When attorneys representing clients being held at the Everglades detention center attempt to contest their confinement in federal court, they are told that the federal court lacks jurisdiction because the facility is being run by the state government.
Read 9 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 30
1. DONALD TRUMP'S NEW CLAIMS ABOUT EPSTEIN CONTRADICT HIS PAST STATEMENTS

Yesterday, Trump said he kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago shortly after he "stole" 16-year-old Virginia Giuffre from his spa. That was in 2000.

But in 2019, Trump's lawyer admitted Epstein remained a member until 2007
2. Also, Trump called Jeffrey Epstein "a terrific guy" who is "a lot of fun to be with" in an October 2002 New York Magazine article. That was two years after Epstein "hired" 16-year-old Giuffre, an Epstein victim.

popular.info/p/update-trump…
3. In 2003, according to a Wall Street Journal report, Trump wrote Epstein a birthday message calling him his "pal" and concluded, "may every day be another wonderful secret." Image
Read 7 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 28
1. Axios' Mike Allen & Jim VandeHei insist they NEVER expresses opinions on political topics

They describe their reporting as "clincal"

So, how did they cover the first 6 months of Trump? "President Trump, in terms of raw accomplishments, crushed his first six months in historic ways," they wroteImage
2. Allen and VandeHei listed Trump's "wins": "Massive tax cuts. Record-low border crossings. Surging tariff revenue. Stunning air strikes in Iran. Modest inflation." It's "the very best chapter of his presidency"

popular.info/p/axios-and-th…
3. But Allen and VandeHei are puzzled that, despite all this success, Trump's approval ratings are very low. They offer this explanation: Americans "seem tired of all the winning."

"[V]oters demand change," Allen and VandeHei argue, "then flinch when it arrives too fast or too hard."Image
Read 10 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 24
1. According to President Trump, large American cities are crime-infested hellholes.

Last month, Trump claimed that cities run by Democrats have “heavy crime” and called Los Angeles a “trash heap...under the control of transnational gangs and criminal networks.”

The data tells a different story
2. Trump blames the alleged crime wave on cities that have limited cash bail.

So let's look at some cities run by Democrats that have recently imposed bail reform.

popular.info/p/cash-bail-my…
3. LA enacted a zero-bail policy in October 2023, which eliminated cash bail for all but the most violent crimes.

In 2024, homicides in LA were down 14% compared to 2023, with the # of shooting victims down 19%. Property crime is also down. In June, LA had the fewest number of homicides since 1966
Read 6 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 22
1. Trump is turning a failing media company into a bitcoin holding company.

TMTG, the parent company of Truth Social, lost over $185M on just $3.6M in revenue in 2024

Yesterday, TMTG announced it had purchased $2 BILLION IN BITCOIN

Trump can make sure this gamble pays off
2. Lots of companies employing a "bitcoin treasury" strategy

The difference: TMTG does not just have to hope bitcoin prices rise

Trump has the authority to take actions that will drive the price of bitcoin higher

popular.info/p/from-truth-s…
3. Since taking office, Trump has systematically used the power of the presidency to promote bitcoin.

He's issued executive orders, signed legislation written by crypto lobbyists, and appointed crypto boosters to the head of regulatory agencies.

And this could be just the beginning.
Read 7 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
Jul 21
1. Trump says that the letter to Epstein is fake because the letter is "not the way I talk."

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the letter is "not at all how he speaks or writes."

JD Vance said the same thing.

Does the letter sound like Trump?

I investigated.
2. The most distinctive single word in the letter is "enigma."

Donald Trump Jr. says his dad has a very distinctive speaking style and never used the word "enigma."

This is not true.

popular.info/p/does-trumps-…
3. In 2015, Trump used the word "enigma" twice to describe Ben Carson.

Trump also used the word "enigma" twice in his 2004 book, Trump: How to Get Rich.

Trump also used the term in his 1990 book, Trump: Surviving at the Top to describe Mike Tyson.
Read 9 tweets

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